CSTV-Cambodia Sports Television to pilot in 2020

Cambodia will launch the CSTV-Cambodia Sports Television channel in 2020, to be piloted online, says Vat Chamroeun, Tourism Secretary of State and secretary-general of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC).

Cambodia Sports Television (CSTV)

Cambodia is due to host the 2023 edition of the Southeast Asian Games which is a multi-sport event. The Philippines held the SEA Games in 2019, with the Games scheduled to be held every two years, this will the first time the Kingdom of Cambodia will host the international sporting showpiece. Vat Chamroeun, said a dedicated sports channel "is needed to ensure that the SEA Games receive the necessary coverage." The NOCC will manage the Cambodia Sports Television and train the necessary personnel to "ensure that CSTV can deliver high-quality broadcasts" said Cambodian news agency AKP.

2023 SEA Games

The plans are for the new television channel to have its broadcasting centre ready for big national and international sports events, prior to the 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in March of 2023. The nation has participated in the SEA Games in 1983, 1985 and 1987, and rejoined in 1995. Cambodia collected a total of 46 medals for its second-best finish at the SEA Games in 2019. Cambodia's preparations for the 2023 SEA Games started in 2013 with the construction of the centrepiece Morodok Techo National Stadium as well as other SEA Games-related projects on the outskirts of Phnom Penh. The Chinese stadium project is allegedly costing $160 million and was scheduled to be completed by the end of 2020. Tourism Minister Thong Khon, who is also the chairman of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC), also presides over 2023 SEA Games Organising Committee (CAMSOC). The Committee also includes representation from 39 affiliated Cambodian sports federations. Phnom Penh will be the core venue of the 2023 SEA Games, with the provinces of Kampot, Kep, Takeo, Siem Reap, Battambang and Kampong Cham also hosting events. In 2019, the Cambodian government said it expected to spend about $400 million on the Southeast Asian Games. The SEA Games 2023 could potentially reap the Kingdom economic and social benefits. Photo Credit: Pha Lina PP Post

Television in Cambodia

The Cambodian Ministry of Information said in 2019 it was planning to launch 3-4 digital television channels in 2023. The Ministry of Information spokesman Phos Sovann said Cambodia "planned to catch up in the global switch to digital as Cambodia was 'lagging behind'." The Phnom Penh Post reported that "there are 200 terrestrial and cable television channels available in the Kingdom, and only five broadcast digitally." Read more about Marketing & Advertising in Cambodia: Media, Market research, Digital, Agencies and TV in our guide.